Introduction

Pathways to Higher Education-Egypt Project implements the planned training programs for graduates to enhance their personal, mental, social, and research skills, in addition, providing graduates with basic skills for better job. The general lectures are important pillars of those programs. These organized lectures discuss important subjects in different fields, increase graduates' awareness of current issues, listen to their opinions, and develop their ability of constructive discussion. Generally speaking, the chance for youth to meet successful and prominent figures is enabling them to plan their future and follow the proper model. This also gives the experts (lecturers) a clear image of youths' ambition.

Although these lectures are mainly directed to Pathways trainees and graduates, many specialized professors, research students, graduates, and undergraduate students attended those lectures. It may be due to the lectures quality and the great Pathways effort that done in announcing for them. Representatives of the FECU, CAPSCU, and Pathways Team were keen on attending these lectures such as: Dr. Mohamed K. Bedewy, Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Adel Khalil, Vice Dean for Postgraduate Studies and Research of Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Mohamed M. Megahed, CAPSCU Director, Dr. Ahmed El-Zoghby, Vice Director of CAPSCU, Dr. Sayed Kaseb, Pathways Manger, and Dr. Abdel-Alim Hashem Material development coordinator. Most of these lectures were media–covered especially for seminars and workshops.

Generally, these lectures had been given during the implementation of Pathways programs: Enhancement of Research Skills (ERS), Training of Trainers (TOT), and Development of Leadership Skills (DLS). The duration of each lecture was about three hours for opinions exchange and experience transformation as well as questions and open discussions.

Classification of General Lectures

The general lectures organized by Pathways vary between traditional lectures, seminars and workshops. This directory is consisted of thirty three abstracts for the organized general lectures during phase I of Pathways (including one seminar and three workshops). Their subjects were chosen to serve Pathways targets as follows:

1- Current issues and challenges facing the society

2- National and international scholarship programs, with special focus on Ford Foundation international fellowship program

3- Scientific research and development and challenges facing them

4- Job opportunities and development graduate skills for work market requirements

Figure 1 shows the number of lectures held for each of the above topics.

1- Current Issues and challenges facing the society

This topic was started with a lecture on public opinion which is considered as one of the critical issues in the society; as changing opinions is one of the most difficult issues that face development and progress, and on the recognition of the main issues and pursuing events. The lecture also passed a remark on the techniques that can change the public opinion and how to prevent being a prey under rumors and deviations. Considering the woman's role, many lectures were conducted; they gave priority to woman's health, and early discovery of diseases. A lecture about depression showed that the woman is more liable to it, also how to avoid it and to have precaution against it. These lectures meet the program targets that stress woman development and improving their situation improvement.

Figure 1: Classification of general lectures according to its topics

An area was provided for media because of its great role in disseminating cultures and discussing the public issues. International media and globalization was handled as well as the definition of globalization; its good and bad effects on the developing countries, and how to get the best benefit from it. The challenges that confront the Egyptian Media under the recent variations were discussed. It was necessary to pass a remark on the national level by discussing the Arabic Media as well as the crucial issues that confronts it, for example; the case of Palestine, Iraq, European Union, European market, and other contemporary economic issues.

The role of press and its independency in Egypt was discussed: its reality, its optimum expected status and how to develop it to serve the society and to achieve the individual welfare in the society. Also, the sport journalism was handled because of the effective role of sport in supporting relationships between peoples and how to avoid going to extremes and to handle the sportive issues wisely and attentively without excitement. Also, the specialized TV Channels had a part in the discussion with its nature and its role in facing the challenges of globalization. Pathways trainees' recognition and awareness of media were apparent through their discussions and interlocution with the experts and the specialists in different types of media.

In addition, other lectures discussed the Egyptian society, its history, its beginning, its bear and identity preservation aspects over different ages as well as the historic events passing by it till now. There was a part in the trainees' preparation for the risks which confront the society and the individual, for supporting their awareness of risk concept. Regarding youth, a great part was given to them, their protection against the danger of drug addiction and the medical need for early discovery and correct treatment, and their preparation for holding new families advantageous to the society conserving its identity and its doctrines. All these aspects affected the cognitive part of the trainees and refreshed their spirit of being cute.

2- National and international scholarships with special focus on Ford Foundation International Fellowship Program

One of the main goals of Pathways is to qualify graduates for research and competition on the local and international grants, that's why the program management is careful to make trainees aware of these grants' requirements, how to apply for it and the skills required. Through four lectures the trainees were able to know about the grants provided by Ford Foundation, applying dates, application requirements, and how the applications are being judged. The lectures browsed the programs of post-graduate studies in U.S.A., its supplying panel or institutes, the web sites of these institutes, and their agential offices in Egypt such as; AMIDEAST office. It's worthy to mention that the lecture's data are available for all Pathways programs trainees, and Pathways helped many of them in filling the application forms and getting many fellowships.

3- Scientific research and development and challenges facing them

The third area of the general lectures was devoted to the current status of research, and development and the challenges confronting both of them. Lectures were varying between economic, psychological, and legal challenges, in addition to personal experiences in research and the initial steps which achieved the quality of education and the international authorization of Egyptian certificates through individual experiences for some faculties and ministerial procedures for the development of higher education in Egypt.

Among the managerial challenges: The absence of an inclusive plan for research, research irrelevance to the requirements of development, low motivation, bias towards researches and the difficulty of getting recent publications. Among the legal challenges come the authoring rights, quoting conditions, the difficulty of patently registration, and the independence of universities. There was also a part for technological advancement through a practical example for developing is one of an apparatus that distinguished several concepts in the world of micro-cells and the very tiny components of matter.

As for the education development, it was handled through an experience of achieving quality and accreditation for a program of the Faculty of Commerce, Cairo University. Then an inclusive symposium was held regarding the ministry's plan for developing education in Egypt, for achieving quality and accreditation through the ministry programs, the priorities defined in the plan, and how to participate in these programs as members of staff and as working people in the educational field. This seminar had a great effect on supporting trainees' morale and putting out their inner hope. It showed the seriousness of the authorities in the development of education to face globalization challenges.

4- Job opportunities and development graduate skills for work market requirements

The unemployment is one of the problems confronting youth. It may cause disappointment and depression to them. Eight lectures were introduced in this area varying between the challenges, services, requirements, ability and personal traits development, time management, and some applied life skills.

During these lectures the trainees were informed about the challenges they face in business field in the 21^st century. Globalization was handled with its economical, cultural and political effects which confront individuals in the developing countries and how necessary's to find out the geniuses and care for them and provide the graduates with information technology. There was also a part in the lectures for developing the required skills for business job, continuity, promotion, mastering, and hard work as these are the requirements of progress and development.

The lectures passed a remark to the services that graduates can get through "youth and sport" broadcast in the area of getting a job, with the ideas and suggestions introduced to match the requirements of development and how to subscribe in social serving programs. The unemployment range and categorization in Egypt was handled in one of the lectures which also handled the national income, the Egyptian pay off system and the role of recent graduates in productivity development, developing new ideas, developing non-traditional techniques to mitigate the unemployment problem and providing job opportunities. There was also a part in this area for craft work, creativity and innovation to provide a better life and an additional source of income to the graduate without waiting in a queue for a governmental work or waiting for along time aimlessly. Answering the graduates' questioning about S & M projects funding; one of the lectures handled the role of the "Social Fund for Service and Development" in helping those having innovative and synthetical ideas to achieve their ideas and solutions by funding their small and intermediate projects with facilitated loans.

Classifications of lecturers' Groups

This diverse nature of the General Lectures topics is met with similar diversity of the lecturers. As Pathways tends always to increase its pool of experts and stakeholders. During each Batch, new academic and public figures participate in the project. Consequently, the lecturers of the 33 general lectures were delivered by 32 prominent figures from 17 different academic institutes and organizations.

It's worth to mention that some members of Pathways steering committee and some professors at Cairo University and different Egyptian Universities as well as some specialists and experts and businessmen had participated in introducing those lectures. Figure 2 shows the lecturers variation according to their place of work.

Figure 2: Classification of lecturers' group

Eight members of the steering committee participated in introducing some of these lectures (Table 1) which indicates that the steering committee activities are not only confined to attend the meetings and make policies, but also extends to all Pathways activities such as training, supervising graduation projects and giving general lectures. They introduce their experiences by discussing the current issues and directing the trainees to the scientific bases of research, creativity and innovation.

Eight of Cairo University professors took parts in introducing these lectures (Table 2) as well as four professors from other universities and educational institutes (Table 3). This variation is for the wellness of the program and meets the goals of general lectures to get benefit from experiences in Cairo University or other Universities.

A businessman was a guest as a model to the youth in overcoming the problems of unemployment and bureaucracy. This businessman started from the very beginning and managed to achieve success, overcome the difficulties, and accomplish his desired goal (Table 4).

Inviting the public specialists and experts had the great effect on passing the experiences to the trainees and graduates, by discussing their ideas and viewpoints in all society issues (Table 5). They were chosen in an efficient way to match trainees interests and needs. Actually, Pathways appreciate specialists and experts efforts in all Pathways training programs. It's worthy to mention that female percentage among the specialists and experts lecturers was more than 50% which matches with the female percentage among Pathways trainees too.

Table 1: Lecturers from Steering Committee Members

SN	Lecturer	Lecture/Seminar/Workshop Title
1	Dr. Ahmed Aboulwafa Mohamed Vice Dean for Postgraduate Studies Faculty of Law - Cairo University	· Scientific Research and Law
2	Dr. Sami El-Sherif Vice Dean of Students Affairs Faculty of Mass Communication, Cairo University	· International Media and Globalization Variants · Egyptian Media and the Current Challenges · Quality Assurance and Accreditation Strategy as a Means to Reform Higher Education in Egypt
3	Dr. Ahmed Farghally Dean of the Faculty Faculty of Commerce - Cairo University	· International Quality Assurance and Accreditation for Higher Education Programs (Case Study: English Program in Faculty of Commerce, Cairo University) · Quality Assurance and Accreditation Strategy as a Means to Reform Higher Education in Egypt
4	Dr. Sayed Kaseb Manager of "Pathways to Higher Education, Egypt" project Faculty of Engineering – Cairo University	· Skills Needed for Employment Market and Scholarships · Time Management
5	Dr. Fouad Khalaf Local coordinator of Tempus Risk Project Enhancement of Risk Perception in Engineering Education Project Faculty of Engineering – Cairo University	· Enhancement of Risk Perception in Education · Basic Skills and Life Applications
6	Dr. Ali Abdel Rahman Cairo University President	· Quality Assurance and Accreditation Strategy as a Means to Reform Higher Education in Egypt
7	Dr. Mohamed Kamal Bedewy Dean of Faculty of Engineering Cairo University	· Quality Assurance and Accreditation Strategy as a Means to Reform Higher Education in Egypt
8	Dr. Mohsen Elmahdy Said Executive Director and Chairman of the Board of the Projects Management Unit (PMU), Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and Pathways coordinator	· Quality Assurance and Accreditation Strategy as a Means to Reform Higher Education in Egypt

Table 2: Lecturers from Cairo University

SN	Lecturer	Lecture/Seminar/Workshop Title
1	Dr. Motaz Sayed Abdallah Director of Psychological Research Center Faculty of Arts - Cairo University	· Challenges Facing Scientific Research
2	Dr. Atef Adly Alabd Director of Public Opinion Research Center Faculty of Mass Communications Cairo University	· Public Opinion
3	Dr. Salma Fouad Dawara Professor of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine (Kasr El-Einy) - Cairo University	· Women Health and Early Detection of Cancer
4	Dr. Magy Al-Halawany Dean of the Faculty Faculty of Mass Communications - Cairo University	· Media and Women Issues · Quality Assurance and Accreditation Strategy as a Means to Reform Higher Education in Egypt
5	Dr. Saad Megahed El-Raghy Professor of Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering - Cairo University	· Personal Experience in Research and Development
6	Dr. Zeinab Abdel Salam Sarhan Professor of psychological diseases Faculty of Medicine (Kasr El-Einy) - Cairo University	· Medical Facts about Depression
7	Dr. Mohamed Fahmy Abd El Baky Professor of History Faculty of Arts - Cairo University	· The Egyptian Society and the Affecting Historical Factors
8	Dr. Ashraf Saleh Head of Press Department Faculty of Mass Communication - Cairo University	· Liberal Press in Egypt: Reality and Hope

Table 3: Lecturers from other universities and educational institutions

SN	Lecturer	Lecture/Seminar/Workshop Title
1	Dr. Fathy Motwally El-Nady Consultant, Prof, of Management and HR Development Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport	· Challenges of the 21^st Century
2	Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud Hafez Director of "Faculty Members and Leadership development" Project Faculty of Science – Assuit University	· Overview of the Technological Development – Microscope
3	Dr. Salwa Abdel-Khalek Nawishy Associate Professor of Clinical Psychopharmacology Faculty of Medicine - Ain Shams University	· Medical Necessity to Detect and Treat Drug Abuse among Youth
4	Dr. Aly Swylam Vice Dean of the Faculty of Post Graduate Studies in Management Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport	· How to Prepare Yourself for Your Career?

Table 4: Lecturers from Businessmen

SN	Lecturer	Lecture/Seminar/Workshop Title
	Eng. Mohamed Saleh Keshk Architect Owner of Keshk Shops	· Development of Leader's Personal Characteristics for Different Work Structure

Table 5: Lecturers from specialists and experts

SN	Lecturer	Lecture/Seminar/Workshop Title
1	Dr. Maha El-Adawy Program Officer, Reproductive Health and Rights Ford Foundation Office - Cairo	International Fellowships Program, Ford Foundation (FF)
2	Ms. Osama El-Sayed Head of Youth and Sports Broadcasting Station Egyptian Radio and TV Union	Services Provided by Youth and Sports Broadcasting Station for Graduates
3	Mr. Adel Ibrahim Head of Economy Section, Assistant Chief Editor Al Ahram Egyptian Newspaper	Towards New Job Opportunities for Graduates
4	Ms. Abir Khater Associate Director – Advising Program AMIDEAST - Cairo	Scholarships for Undergraduates and Graduates in USA
5	Ambassador Mr. Nehad Abd El latif General Secretary of the Preeminent Council for the Implementation of the Euro-Egyptian Association Agreement	Highlights about Euro-Egyptian Association Agreement
6	Ms. Nancy Fanous Program Specialist – Education Resources AMIDEAST – Cairo	Available Scholarships for Graduates Provided by AMIDEAST
7	Ms. Tahany Halawa Head of Specialist Channels Sector Egyptian TV and Broadcasting Institution	Specialized TV Channels and the Challenges of Globalization
8	Dr. Ahmed Yousif ElKoriey Vice Head of Chief Editor Al Ahram Egyptian Newspaper	Arab Media and National Issues
9	Dr. Ezat Deia Eldin Director of Technical Office in the Social Fund for Development General Secretary for Arab Union for Small Enterprises	Building Skills and Abilities
10	Mr. Mahmoud Marouf Sports Critique and Member of People's Assembly Al Gomhoria Newspaper	Sports' Press
11	Dr. Fayrouz Omar Consultant in Adam and Eve Centre for Family Consultations and Training	Preparing Youth for Marriage

Achievements of Pathways to Higher Education Project

During Phase I (2003-2005), Pathways had finished all the planned activities. Some of them and their quantitative outputs could be reported as follows:

1- Pathways Training Achievements

Pathways managed three basic training programs; the following table shows the main outputs for these programs:

Program	Enhancement of Research Skills ERS	Training of Trainers TOT	Development of Leadership Skills DLS	Total
Number of Trainees	569	58	61	688
Number of Training Classes	29	6	4	39
Number of Trainers	106	8	6	120

It's worthy to mention that 33 general lectures were held during training programs, also Pathways trainees conducting 134 graduation projects under professors' supervision.

2- Publishing 20 Books

Pathways Management Team was keening on knowledge and learning spreading as well as popularizing the benefits of training courses that Pathways trainees got. Pathways had performed the following steps to publish the books:

· Searching for specialized professor to write books for skills development

· Preparing initial version for these materials

· Asking the authors, trainers, and trainees to review and evaluate these materials

· Preparing second and third versions for these materials with continuous developing

· Preparing the last version for these materials and publishing it

It's worthy mention that these 20 books takes codes from C 1/1 to C 20/1 as the first number refers to the serial number of the book among the series of 20 books, the second refers to the edition number for books as well as all of the books are considered the first published edition. Pathways Management Team plans to develop these books and publish other versions in the coming phases. So we hope these books will help in spreading knowledge among graduates and specialists, also to aware the young minds with different experiences of authors and trainers as well as enriching the Egyptian libraries.

3- Establishing Four Labs at Cairo University for Enhancing Research Skills

Pathways funded four labs for the university centers that participated in holding the training programs. These centers were offering Pathways training infrastructure and the human resources which led to the successful implementation for Pathways mission. These labs were established at the following centers:

· The Research and Commercial Studies Center - Faculty of Commerce

· Psychological Research Center - Faculty of Arts

· Center of Training, Documentation and Media Production - Faculty of Mass Communications

· Center for Advancement of Postgraduate Studies and Research in Engineering Sciences - Faculty of Engineering

General Lectures Directory

The need to summarize the general lectures including the seminars and the workshops organized by Pathways and to integrate its valuable information in one directory came to facilitate its handling among those who may concern. This directory comes as one of the important outputs of Pathways 20 books. It's worthy to mention that the lectures are sorted historically in this directory by coding the lecture with its serial, and batch number (Ex: L15/6 means lecture No. 15 in batch No. 6). Some Pathways photos as well as the Arabic translation are included in this book.

Publishing this directory in a book which will be sent to all the interested libraries as well as uploaded on Pathways web site www.pathways-Egypt.com may participate in reaching the greatest goal which is making the university graduates aware of the best use of their skills and abilities in the frame of available possibilities for achieving the society development.

We thank and appreciate all the colleagues' participation in giving the general lectures, seminars, and workshops organized by Pathways, and we thank all the professors, trainees, graduates and researchers who attended these lectures. Thanks also to Pathways team (trainees and graduates) who participated in summarizing, translating, and editing these lectures, especially Mr. Safwat Ali Saleh, Ms. Hanan Abdel-Fattah Badr, Dr. Hoda Mohamed Mahmoud, Eng. Iman Metwally Hasan Abu-Hamd, Ms. Heba Abdel Wahab Ahmed, Mr. Abdallah Mahmoud Shoaib, Eng. Manar Mohamed Hamed, Ms. Samar Mohamed Naguib, Ms. Mai Saeid Taha and Ms. Hanan Ahmed Hefzy.